Soldotna resident Leah McCabe receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management's walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Convenience is key moving forward with vaccination, officials say

On Friday, one of the first mass walk-in vaccine clinics on the peninsula was offered at Soldotna Prep School.

Soldotna resident Leah McCabe receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management's walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
A parking lot set to be reconstructed is seen highlighted in red at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Richards)

More heated sidewalks coming to Central Peninsula Hospital

CPH Board of Directors cited the high demand for parking spaces that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) at health care facilities.

A parking lot set to be reconstructed is seen highlighted in red at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Richards)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to vote on budget, mill rate Wednesday

In all, the City of Kenai is projecting around $38.6 million in revenue and just under $50 million in expenditures.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

11 new COVID deaths reported on Monday

10 were identified through death certificate review.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Employees work the lunch rush at Jersey Subs in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The sandwich shop is having trouble finding people to work this summer. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula businesses report worker shortage

Local business owners say it’s “almost impossible” to fill open positions.

Employees work the lunch rush at Jersey Subs in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The sandwich shop is having trouble finding people to work this summer. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration and Assembly meet for a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.

KPBSD recruiting new staff at most schools

The district is looking to hire more than 50 new staff members for schools across the borough.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration and Assembly meet for a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.
Dunline and western sandpipers feed in Mud Bay on Friday, May 7, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Shorebird festival delights with birds and birders

142 species counted during annual festival

Dunline and western sandpipers feed in Mud Bay on Friday, May 7, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A ‘blip’ in budgeting history; Soldotna crafts post-pandemic budget

The city took a smaller financial hit than initially anticipated.

The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

1 in 2 Alaskans 16 and older have received at least 1 dose of vaccine

44.16% of residents 16 and older in the Kenai Peninsula Borough had received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai River Brown Bears salute seats mostly empty due to coronavirus mitigation measures after a victory over the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on April 23 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna.

Brown Bears spectator limit boosted to 750 for Friday’s game

The spectator limit at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex has fluctuated between 250 and 750 since February.

Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai River Brown Bears salute seats mostly empty due to coronavirus mitigation measures after a victory over the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on April 23 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna.
A ringed seal rescued from Dutch Harbor is held at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on May 12, 2021. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center admits ringed seal from Dutch Harbor

Dutch Harbor is outside of the normal range for ringed seals.

A ringed seal rescued from Dutch Harbor is held at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on May 12, 2021. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)
Resonant Rogues perform at Soldotna Creek Park during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council shuts down meeting move

The legislation would have allowed council members to attend more of the city’s Wednesday night music series events.

Resonant Rogues perform at Soldotna Creek Park during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A DNR map of navigable and non-navigable waters are seen on the Kenai Peninsula. (Screenshot)

State unveils maps in effort to ‘unlock’ Alaska waters

The maps are part of an initiative to assert control of state lands.

A DNR map of navigable and non-navigable waters are seen on the Kenai Peninsula. (Screenshot)
On Monday, the final day of the May long weekend, Harri Herter from Kamloops takes turns and gives friends thrilling jetski rides on little Shuswap Lake. - Image credit: Rick Koch photo.

Lawsuit challenges Jet Ski use in bay

Coalition of environmental groups says Fish and Game’s process to rescind JetSki ban was illegal

On Monday, the final day of the May long weekend, Harri Herter from Kamloops takes turns and gives friends thrilling jetski rides on little Shuswap Lake. - Image credit: Rick Koch photo.
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Youth 12-15 years old can now get vaccinated

Borough emergency management is working to assist the Pfizer vaccine rollout efforts to the new eligible population.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sierra Moskios is the coordinator for the REC Room. Moskios recently received an Alaska Afterschool Superhero award for her dedication to the youth of Homer. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Moskios earns Alaska Afterschool Superhero award

Sierra Moskios earned the Alaska Afterschool Superhero award for her dedication to Homer youth.

Sierra Moskios is the coordinator for the REC Room. Moskios recently received an Alaska Afterschool Superhero award for her dedication to the youth of Homer. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Megan Pike, Kenai Watershed Forum’s education specialist and Adopt-A-Stream program coordinator, wades into Soldotna Creek to dig up creek bed samples for a group of Connections Homeschool students to parse through for macroinvertebrate sampling, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Summer camp registrations open at Kenai Watershed Forum

The forum canceled its summer events last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Megan Pike, Kenai Watershed Forum’s education specialist and Adopt-A-Stream program coordinator, wades into Soldotna Creek to dig up creek bed samples for a group of Connections Homeschool students to parse through for macroinvertebrate sampling, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham addresses state and Alaska Native leaders Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

State redistricting may take longer this year

State legislative districts are redrawn by a board of five people following the decennial census.

U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham addresses state and Alaska Native leaders Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Smoke from the Swan Lake Fire impairs visibility on the Sterling Highway on Aug. 20, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Southcentral Alaska at increased risk for ‘severe’ wildfires in future

A study from researchers across Alaska said that the region should expect future fire seasons comparable to 2019.

Smoke from the Swan Lake Fire impairs visibility on the Sterling Highway on Aug. 20, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)